Nepal CA step ahead towards new constitution

Kathmandu, Nov 15: The Constituent Assembly (CA) of Nepal has approved the assembly rules and regulations draft that now paves the way for the commencement of drafting a new constitution.

According to Kantipur, it has also passed the rules of procedures to run the Legislature-Parliament. Meanwhile, Constituent Assembly Terms of Reference Advisory Committee discussed ways to pass the regulation. The Constituent Assembly regulations do not have the whip provision as the parties remained at loggerheads for a long time over the issue. According to the Constituent Assembly regulations draft, all issues to be incorporated into the constitution in the making will be decided either unanimously or by a two-thirds majority.

Besides opposition party lawmakers, members of the ruling parties have also registered amendment proposals seeking changes in the regulations.

The amendment proposals filed by the lawmakers of the CPN-Maoist, the UML and the Nepali Congress (NC) have demanded that the scope and authority of the parliamentary committees be extended.

According to official sources, the secretariat has prepared a draft of the calendar of events for the 14 different committees including a constitutional committee, 10 thematic committees and three procedural committees to help carry out their responsibilities within the specified jurisdictions, and complete the constitution drafting process by May 27, 2010, the stipulated timeframe.

Two sets of drafts of rules of procedures had been tabled at Constituent Assembly on November 17 to carry on with its responsibility to draft the Constitution.

ANI